Defining Element Tutorial

<dfn>

Introductory Text

The dfn element represents a defining instance of the enclosed term.

[Note: The W3C HTML 4.01 specification has a vague description for this element. Defining - according to real-world use - may either be translated as “first instance of usage” or “a definition term”. HTML 5 defines dfn as “first instance”.]

Start tag:: <dfn>
End tag:: </dfn>

Use Examples

Example [First Instance Use]:

HTML 4.01/Strict is the DocType which should be used for all Standards-compliant sites.

HTML has greater stability.

Code [HTML]:


<p><dfn><abbr title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</abbr></dfn> »
4.01/Strict is the <dfn><abbr title="Document Type Definition">DocType</abbr> »
</dfn> which should be used for all Standards-compliant sites.</p>

<p><abbr>HTML</abbr> has greater stability.</p>

Example [First Instance Use with definition]:

HTML is the abbreviation for HyperText Markup Language.

Code [HTML]:


<p><dfn><abbr>HTML</abbr> is the abbreviation for HyperText Markup Language.</dfn></p>

Example [A Definition Term]:

All of the fun at the Phare.

Code [HTML]:


<p>All of the fun at the <dfn id="definitionDisplay" lang="fr" title="Homophone pun »
on the French word for lighthouse instead of English language 'Fair'" class="definition"> »
Phare</dfn>.<p>

Content Model/Assigned Attributes

Element-Type:

Text-Level [HTML 4.01]

Phrasing Content [HTML 5]

Attributes:

</dfn>